Srboljub Stamenković (

Serbian Cyrillic The Serbian Cyrillic alphabet (, ), also known as the Serbian script, (, ), is a standardized variation of the Cyrillic script used to write the Serbian language. It originated in medieval Serbia and was significantly reformed in the 19th cen ...

: Србољуб Стаменковић; 31 January 1956 – 28 January 1996) was a Serbian

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

player. The most notable part of his career was spent in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

playing

indoor soccer Indoor soccer or arena soccer is a form of five-a-side football, five-a-side or six-a-side version of minifootball. It is derived from association football and adapted to be played in walled hardcourt indoor arenas. It differs from the FIFA, FIFA ...

for the Major Indoor Soccer League in Memphis and

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

. He was known professionally in the United States as Stan Stamenkovic.

Career

Born in the town of

Užice Užice ( sr-cyr, Ужице, ) is a List of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative centre of the Zlatibor District in western Serbia. It is located on the banks of the river Đetinja. According to the 2022 census, the city proper has a popu ...

(then called Titovo Užice) in

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

, he started playing for

Red Star Belgrade Fudbalski klub Crvena zvezda ( sr-cyrl, Фудбалски клуб Црвена звезда, lit=Red Star Football Club), commonly referred to as Crvena zvezda () and colloquially referred to as Red Star Belgrade in anglophone media, is a ...

in 1975 and stayed until 1981, when he was transferred to the Memphis Americans of the Major Indoor Soccer League.The Year in American Soccer - 1983
/ref> He played there for two seasons before going to the

Baltimore Blast The Baltimore Blast are an American professional indoor soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland, that competes in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). Including one championship victory as the original Baltimore Blast, the team has won 10 c ...

and stayed there until 1988, after helping the team win an MISL championship in 1984. He returned to Yugoslavia afterward to start his own business, a pizza parlor. He tried a comeback with the CISL's San Jose Grizzlies in 1994 but nagging injuries, which had prompted his earlier retirement, stopped this after 8 matches. Stamenković scored 231 career goals and tallied 311 assists for a total of 542 career points. He is sometimes referred to as the greatest player in MISL history. In 1984, he led the league with 34 goals. His unique dribbling was perfect for the indoor game. At times he made the ball look like it was on a string. He could also find a streaking player, and thread the needle behind his back, as if he had eyes in the back of his head.

Personal life

With his wife Vera, he had two children: a daughter named Jovana and a son named Nebojša who is a soccer coach.

Death

Stamenkovic died after injuring his head in a fall on a sidewalk in Užice, just three days before his fortieth birthday.

Yearly Awards

* MISL All-Star Team –; 1982, 1983, 1984 * MISL Pass-Master (most assists) – 1983, 1984 * MISL Top Points Scorer – 1984 * MISL MVP – 1984

References

External links

MISL profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stamenkovic, Stan 1956 births 1996 deaths Footballers from Užice Serbian men's footballers Yugoslav men's footballers Yugoslav First League players Baltimore Blast (1980–1992) players Continental Indoor Soccer League players Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992) players Memphis Americans players Red Star Belgrade footballers San Jose Grizzlies players Men's association football forwards Accidental deaths from falls